Posted - 09/03/2010 : 17:00:49 as a pens fan i gotta say as of today that mario and jagr were better....ask me again in 5 years and iam almost positive malkin and crosby will be my answer, these guys arent even in their prime yet...that was not the last cup those two guys get. malkin is a tank and crosby is obviously not human.

phlyguy90

Posted - 09/03/2010 : 12:17:28 is this even a serious question? Utemin what the F are you talking about?

Guest7576

Posted - 09/01/2010 : 10:22:51 Had to comment on this one. It's arrogant to say that the game was easier back then when gretzky, lemieux and jagr played.

Sure goalies didn't have as good equipment but the game was actually harder when considering physical play. You could practically do anything to stop a player and you didnt get a penalty.

And let's not forget the player types we have today, the training system and everything else has developed. I don't think a player like ovechkin could have even excisted back in the 90's.

One more thing, the game is even faster now, players have better equipment, they can make even faster and more accurate shots.

So considering all that i i think lemieux and jagr would have been as dominant today as they were back in the days. So i will have to pick them.

ryan93

Posted - 04/20/2010 : 18:03:19 9 games this season that is (5 reg season & 4 playoff).

ryan93

Posted - 04/20/2010 : 18:02:48 Well it's hard to go against Sid the way he's playing right now, but i'd have to take Super Mario with Jagr.

In his last 9 games, Sidney Crosby has 26 points!

Utemin

Posted - 04/20/2010 : 11:22:47 This is easy Jagr and Lemieux in there Prime time was probably one of the lower point earning years due to the NHL improving a heck of a lot every year; even as a Crosby hater I can say he is better then both of them! and Malkins better then Crosby. (THIS TIME KEYWORD; OVI would get 350 points in the season in Gretzky;s time every year)

Malkin1Crosby2Jagr3Lemieux4

The Monkey is me

Guest4259

Posted - 04/19/2010 : 21:46:21 this isn't a fair comparison, goalies are better now than they were back when jagr and mario were in their hay day and on top of that the game has totally changed around them. I think malkin and crosby are probably more skilled hockey players but its true that they will likely never put up numbers like those two guys, only b/c of the way the game is played today

irvine

Posted - 04/19/2010 : 21:34:22 Crosby / Malkin - Lemieux / Jagr... fairly similar when you really look it. Both great for the game of hockey, and the city of Pittsburgh.

Actually, I believe Crosby ranks (currently), 4th all-time for PPG during the regular season. Above many, many great players. (based on great players careers VS Crosby's first few years in the league)

And Ovechkin, ranks 5th if i recall. If both keep up their pace, as is, they will finish 4th and 5th all time for PPG. Pretty darn good!

Irvine/prez.

pensfan17

Posted - 05/29/2009 : 16:50:46 A reason why Crosby and Malkin could be more valuable is that they do not play together. Depth is so important in today's NHL and they are an amazing one-twopunch down the middle.

Matt_Roberts85

Posted - 05/29/2009 : 10:29:14 They sure do, tank for 5 years straight than march to the finals...

There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E".

Rambo2305

Posted - 05/29/2009 : 08:00:17 Well put slozo, and yea, it's actually amazing how this comparison is between the two duo's. All I can say is, the Pens know how to draft :D lol

"Most people spend time and energy going around problems, rather than trying to solve them" - Henry Ford

slozo

Posted - 05/29/2009 : 06:54:06 I think it's assumed, Rambo, that in this hypothetical situation that Lemieux and Jagr would also be in their prime . . . Crosby and Malkin in ten years will not be going great guns like this I would assume, their production level will fall off just like everyone else's.

That being said, after a little research on the points per game in the playoffs for all 4 players, I am a little shocked - Lemieux is only ahead of both Malkin and Crosby for two years (90/91 - 44 points in 23 games, and 91/92 - 34 points in 15 games). Jagr is a step below both Malkin and Crosby.

But if we take prime value (it was put as "in their prime"), nobody is at the level of Mario, save for Gretzky (for forwards). So, I still have to lean towards Lemieux/Jagr . . . but like I said, it is surprisingly close.

"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug

Rambo2305

Posted - 05/29/2009 : 05:00:30 When you average the Points Per Game for Crosby and Malkin, to the amount of playoff games of Lemieux & Jagr, Crosby and Malkin have more points combined. Also, when you talk about prime, most players, in most sports experience their "prime" years between age 26-32. So with that being said, could there be more to come from Sid and Evgeni?...

Back to the question, from what I've seen in these playoffs (Crosby and Malkin taking the team on their backs), gotta go with the young guns...

"Most people spend time and energy going around problems, rather than trying to solve them" - Henry Ford

slozo

Posted - 05/29/2009 : 04:31:25 To talk about your point, umteman - they already have tried Crosby and Malkin together . . . and they just do not have the chemistry on a regular basis. That is why they play on two different lines. Jagr, on the other hand, had instant chemistry with Lemieux, who frankly made everyone who ever played with him look fantastic . . . and with a guy as talented as Jagr, even more so.

Let's look at this way; Jagr was, in my mind, ordinarily playing at a level in thos days comparable to how Crosby has been playing in the playoffs this year - outstanding. Lemieux was, of course, on a different level, he never had to worry about defence because literally half the game the other team had to worry about stopping him.

I think the only way Crosby and Malkin could compete, was if they EACH had a fellow linemate that they really clicked with who was a super-talented forward maybe just a step below them. Say, St. Louis plays with Crosby, and Kane plays with Malkin. Then we might have something to talk about!

"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug

Axey

Posted - 05/28/2009 : 20:41:41 As of today, you have to go with Lemieux and Jagr, they were on a whole other level compared to Crosby and Malkin, and let's not get ahead of ourselves, they got the job done nothing is final yet with 87 & 71. Also with the these stats, they were in the cup final 2 years in a row, lets get realistic that most likely is not going to happen each year.

umteman

Posted - 05/28/2009 : 20:41:36

quote:Originally posted by slozo

I agree with Beans wholeheartedly.

Lemieux just flat out dominated . . . and Jagr was at his sniping best then. They were pretty much unstoppable back then, and the numbers bear that out.

I don't see Malkin and Crosby ever getting close to those numbers . . . and besides, they rarely play together, while Lemieux and Jagr often did.

"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug

You have pointed out the factor that complicates this call. It boils down to would you prefer a top line with the one two punch of Lemieux/Jagr or two lines centered by guys who would be the top line center on pretty much any other team in the league.

Did you hear about the retired proctologist? He spent 40 years saying "what's a place like this doing in a girl like you?"

slozo

Posted - 05/28/2009 : 20:04:44 I agree with Beans wholeheartedly.

Lemieux just flat out dominated . . . and Jagr was at his sniping best then. They were pretty much unstoppable back then, and the numbers bear that out.

I don't see Malkin and Crosby ever getting close to those numbers . . . and besides, they rarely play together, while Lemieux and Jagr often did.

"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug

Beans15

Posted - 05/28/2009 : 13:16:29 Knowing what is known today, this is a no brainer. Lemieux is on many people's list as the best player ever, or perhaps the most gifted offensive player ever. We also know that he basically won the Cup on his own in 91. And Jagr, in my opinion, is the best player to ever come out of Europe.

Now, not to say my answer would be the same in 10 years. But, if I had to pick today, hands down, no effort involved at all, I take Lemieux and Jagr.

Gusteroni

Posted - 05/28/2009 : 13:07:23 Just try to imagine that Lemieux and Jagr have only been playing together as long as Crosby and Malkin and are the same age. Something along those lines. I'm just amazed that when you calculate the numbers Crosby and Malkin could be the next Lemieux and Jagr. Not quite identical but if Crosby and Malkin continue on this pace (and are always on a playoff calibre team) they will have far higher numbers by the end of their careers.

That's why I have to go with Crosby and Malkin.

"There are only two seasons in Canada...hockey season and not hockey season."

JOSHUACANADA

Posted - 05/28/2009 : 12:58:12 I assume you mean they are playing in there prime. Although Crosby is making me a believer. Just keeps getting better and better.